Punk band singer terrorizes Yosemite, California sheriff says. ‘Erratic and dangerous’

A 40-year-old Los Angeles man embarked on a “terrorizing trek” through Yosemite National Park and nearby counties, California sheriff’s officials reported.

Anthony Mehlhaff, lead singer of the punk rock band Cancer Christ, faces charges that include vandalism, vehicle theft, reckless driving, kidnapping, first-degree burglary, robbery, obstructing an officer and battery, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

The bizarre series of incidents began when Mehlhaff touched the stomach of a pregnant waitress in a restaurant in Buck Meadows at 1:45 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 21, the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office said in an Aug. 23 news release.

He told the woman, according to deputies, “the spirits led me to you and your baby belongs to me, and what time is your break because I will be waiting for you.”

Mehlhaff stole drinks and attacked another employee before speeding off toward Yosemite National Park, deputies said.

National Park Service rangers tried to stop Mehlhaff near Fish Camp, but he continued until he crashed his vehicle and stole a bicycle, deputies said.

He then took off his shirt and handed it to a bystander, telling him, “you’ll want to keep this, I’m going to be famous,” deputies said.

Mehlhaff entered the Tenaya Lodge kitchen through a back door, placed his hat and other items inside a refrigerator and stole a knife, deputies said.

He went to a creek, where he removed his clothes, and reentered the lodge clubhouse in his underpants, deputies said.

Mehlhaff told customers they were in danger, vandalized the clubhouse and tried to kidnap the store manager, deputies said. The manager slipped away, but Mehlhaff stole his keys and fled in his vehicle.

After a road-rage incident involving another vehicle, Mariposa County deputies chased Mehlhaff, who crashed near Oakhurst and was arrested, deputies said.

He began attacking deputies while being checked at a hospital before being booked into jail, deputies said.

“This man drove all around our county terrorizing our visitors and community members. I am extremely happy that no one was seriously injured, this man’s behavior was erratic and dangerous,” Sheriff Jeremy Briese said in the news release.

Sweatband Records, the label for Cancer Christ, did not immediately respond to McClatchy News’ request for comment.

A spokesman for the band told KTVU it would be releasing a statement shortly.

This story was originally published August 27, 2024 at 1:16 PM with the headline "Punk band singer terrorizes Yosemite, California sheriff says. ‘Erratic and dangerous’."